Professional Tree Surgeons in Huddersfieldhttps://dwtreeservices.co.uk
A Local and friendly team of certified tree surgeonsTue, 20 Nov 2018 07:32:33 +0000en-GBhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.1https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DW-LOGO-1-150x150.pngProfessional Tree Surgeons in Huddersfieldhttps://dwtreeservices.co.uk
3232Tree Planting Tipshttps://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2018/11/10/post-371/
https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2018/11/10/post-371/#respondSat, 10 Nov 2018 09:42:57 +0000https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/?p=371There is an old Chinese proverb that states: ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best is now’ We owe a huge debt to those who have taken it upon themselves to plant the trees that we can quite often take for granted today. Some of the finest examples…

‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best is now’

We owe a huge debt to those who have taken it upon themselves to plant the trees that we can quite often take for granted today. Some of the finest examples of tree planting in the world are right here in the UK thanks to our predecessors of the Victorian era who had a passion for planting trees from around the world on some of the impressive estates up and down the country.

Planting trees has many benefits from helping to provide fresh air and help the environment, creating habitat for local flora and fauna. Trees can actually save money by helping to cool their local area under the tree from transpiration. Trees can help to protect your property or streets from the wind and reduce soil erosion. A tree can also add as much as 10% to the value of your home.

So, there are many reasons to plant trees but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should start throwing any tree in the ground willy-nilly without any thought. Trees are living organisms, some of the largest organisms in the world. Though not the biggest, that accolade belongs to a fungus. With that being said their potential size can cause issues. Planting the right tree in the right place can save money and a huge headache.

What Tree Species Should I Plant

This is where the advice of an arborist or tree surgeon can come in handy. There is a lot to think about but some good starting questions are :

How much space is available?

Trees can range in size from as little as a foot or two to the huge Coastal Redwoods easily reaching 300 foot, the tallest of which at 379 foot tall. But its not just height some trees can be extremely wide, whereas others growth with a fastigiate shape meaning they are relatively thin and frow ‘upright’.

Is light an issue?

Are you planting a tree in a dark area, some trees will love this, some will not survive? Likewise of light areas

Would the Tree Casting a Shadow Cause Issues?

This doesn’t mean you can’t plant a tree, but, should influence your decision as to which type of tree to plant. You could try opting for a tree with smaller leaves such as a silver birch or a tree that doesn’t grow to be too tall.

What are the ground conditions like?

Is the ground constantly wet where you are looking to plant, some trees such as swamp cypress will love this. Others are likely to not survive.

What Time of Year are you Planting the Tree?

The best time of year to plant a tree is undoubted during the trees dormant period from October to March in the UK. However, this is not always possible and with more modernized tree stock it should not prevent you from planting a tree in say summer. It should, however, change the method by which you transplant the tree. There are two main types a tree will be sold to you

Bare-root – This is when a tree is provided to you with little to no soil just the bare tree roots - suitable for planting in winter, cheaper

Root-balled – is when a tree is provided with a globe of soil around the tree roots. This type of root system allows for year-round planting

Could there be Conflict Between the Tree and Infrastructure

Is there some kind of structure close buy i.e. a building (especially those with potentially poor foundations), pathway or flagging that roots potentially could cause damage to? These are good things to note but do not mean you shouldn’t plant. With modern planting techniques and a little bit of foresight, these are quite often issues that can be overcome. For example, you may choose to use root deflectors to encourage root growth in a particular direction i.e downward so tree roots don’t interfere with you nice new patio.

In conclusion, Planting trees is awesome and something that not only you can reap the rewards of but future generations will thank you for. There are reasons to be mindful when considering planting a tree but rarely should you not plant a tree. A little bit of research will go along way and will help you choose a tree that will complement its given area rather than become a hindrance.

]]>https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2018/11/10/post-371/feed/0When is the best time of year to prune my tree?https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2018/08/11/the-best-time-of-year-for-tree-pruning/
https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2018/08/11/the-best-time-of-year-for-tree-pruning/#respondSat, 11 Aug 2018 08:58:36 +0000https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/?p=329Tree Pruning - What is the best time of year? Why Prune your Tree? In terms of what the tree needs there are not many situations in which tree pruning is necessary. That being said; in today's world, trees live in urban environments and come into conflict with people and property. Trees can grow…

Tree Pruning - What is the best time of year?

Why Prune your Tree?

In terms of what the tree needs there are not many situations in which tree pruning is necessary. That being said; in today's world, trees live in urban environments and come into conflict with people and property. Trees can grow to be some of the largest organisms on earth. For as much value as trees bring us they can also cause a nuisance by coming into contact with property, which can cause damage. Hanging low over roadways which can be dangerous and cause damage. Reduce light coming into people’s gardens and obstruct the perfect view. Therefore, pruning can be an essential practice to ensure a good healthy life for the tree and help the tree to add value to its surroundings. If a tree becomes a burden it usually ends with the removal of the tree.

Before you prune your tree

Forward planning is everything and in an ideal world starts before the tree is planted. Selecting the right tree for the right situation can prevent a lot of hassle and minimize the amount of pruning needed to be done.

This is not always possible, so, if you already have a tree the best advice is to act early. Formative pruning in the early stages of a trees life can prevent more severe pruning in later life. Getting advice from a professional tree surgeon (arborist) may help to prevent issues in the future.

Always check with your local council if your tree is subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) for more information on this check our (B) Log on TPO’s.

Factors that Influence Tree Pruning

Disease

Trees cannot ‘heal’ from pruning. Once a tree branch is cut off it cannot grow back. A tree can only seal the cut to prevent infection. Trees also take a long time to seal wounds which means from a fresh cut they are open to attack from disease.

“During the autumn months is when fungal pores are the most active, so it is important to try and avoid these months for tree pruning”

Energy

Just like us trees need energy, they get this via photosynthesis in which a tree creates energy from its leaves. Deciduous trees shed their leaves for their dormant period of the year, winter. During spring the tree must rely on its energy reserves to grow new leaves. This leaves the tree with a lower energy reserve until the tree can stock up again. Removing the trees energy producing branches when it has used a lot of energy producing new leaves at a time when it is using its energy reserves is not good for the tree. Therefore, pruning in spring should be avoided where possible to allow the tree time to stock up its energy reserves.

Conclusion

The best time of year to prune your tree is during winter. This is when the tree is least active and is less likely to come into contact with potential disease. Pruning can also occur in late summer as the tree has had chance to take advantage of its leaves and stock up its energy reserves for the winter. It is important not to leave to too late in order to avoid the fungal season.

]]>https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2018/08/11/the-best-time-of-year-for-tree-pruning/feed/0How to Protect Your Trees During Droughthttps://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2018/08/04/how-to-protect-your-trees-during-drought/
https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2018/08/04/how-to-protect-your-trees-during-drought/#respondSat, 04 Aug 2018 08:36:27 +0000https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/?p=299How to Protect Your Trees During Drought Trees offer us many benefits, especially, during the summer months. Trees offer us somewhere to shade ourselves, cars and properties, which can directly reduce your cooling costs. They also actively cool the air around them and under them, this is due to water evaporating from their leaves this…

How to Protect Your Trees During Drought

Trees offer us many benefits, especially, during the summer months. Trees offer us somewhere to shade ourselves, cars and properties, which can directly reduce your cooling costs. They also actively cool the air around them and under them, this is due to water evaporating from their leaves this is a process called transpiration. This is especially important in trying to cool cities.

Trees clean the air around them taking in carbon dioxide and replacing with oxygen. They provide habitat; a native oak tree can house up to around 900 different species in any one tree. Trees also play an important role in storm water management.

There are some fantastic reasons to protect our Trees, which often get overlooked. In this log we will explore why we need to think about protecting our trees during the summer months and what we can do.

Do Trees Need to be Protected in a Heat Wave?

A mature tree can use up to 100 gallons of water a day. Needless to say, trees need a lot of water. It is quite often a miss conception that trees have deep roots. Though some trees can have deep roots, usually in climates that have little rain fall. In general, you would tent to find the majority of even the largest trees roots to be in the top 2.5/3m of soil. The reason for this is there tends to be more nutrients in this area.

During times of heat and drought the competition for water is a tough battle that trees have got to compete for. There is competition from other plants. Grass can be a huge competitor to trees. drawing up water from around a meter of the soil depth.

Trees also must deal with MAN MADE issues such as non-permeable surfaces i.e. tarmac which prevents water from getting into the soil.

Young trees and newly planted trees are particularly susceptible to drought due to their unestablished root systems and their roots may not go under the competition i.e. grass.

Most scientists now agree that climate change will mean that we are subject to more extreme weather conditions. Hotter summers and less rainfall mean trees will need to compete for water more than ever before.

How Can I Protect My Trees During a Heat Wave?

Fortunately, there are a few things that we can do to help our trees.

Ensure trees have got access to water:

Try to avoid placing non-porous surfaces over or even near trees as the water will run off and your trees will not reap the benefit. Try to opt for a surface that will allow the water the penetrate the soil and give your tree a fighting chance. With modern technology there a not tarmac like surfaces that do allow the water to get to the soil.

Remove the competition:

Removing plants and specifically grass from around the base of the tree can give a massive benefit to your tree.

Mulch:

If you do one thing for your tree, do this: Adding an area of mulch/ wood chip around the base of the tree can bring huge benefits. It will regulate the temperature of the soil in both winter and summer. It helps the soil to retain water.

Mulching increases the number of inhabitants within the soil. This helps to aerate the soil which increases the amount of water the soil can hold and the nutrients with it. Mulch also stops the competition from growing and prevents damage to tree roots from lawnmowers.

Adding an area of mulch will be especially helpful to young or newly planted tress that do not have an established root system.

Watering:

It seems quite natural that you would water the rest of your garden plants. Why not your trees? It is especially important to water young or newly planted trees during their first year, this should be done even if there isn’t an unusually warm period without drought.

The best time of day to water yours trees is during the morning when it is coolest that way the soil can absorb more of the water and less is lost due to evaporation.

It is worth mentioning that during times of drought water is a scares resource for everyone not just trees and it is predicted that this will happen more and more. For this reason, I would look at watering as a last resource. Using mulch and making the most of the water we have are much better ways to help your trees in the summer months.

What's the Best Thing I can do to Help My Trees in the Summer:

Trees need a lot of water. Water is becoming a more scares resource and this is likely to get worse. Trees must compete with other plant such as grass and man-made blocks such as non-porous surfaces i.e. tarmac for the water they need.

There are things that we can do like ensuring we allow water to get to trees by using porous surfaces which allow water to penetrate the soil and removing the competition i.e. grass.

If you do one thing:

Give your tree mulch/ wood chip. There are so many benefits that come from mulch and it is relatively low effort.

Water during the first year of planting or extreme heat/ drought. Water your trees like you would the rest of your garden.

]]>https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2018/08/04/how-to-protect-your-trees-during-drought/feed/0Tree Preservation Orders – What You Need to Knowhttps://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2016/10/23/tree-preservation-orders-helpful-guidance/
https://dwtreeservices.co.uk/2016/10/23/tree-preservation-orders-helpful-guidance/#commentsSun, 23 Oct 2016 14:49:10 +0000https://dwtreeservices.wordpress.com/?p=6A post with information about what a Tree Preservation Order is. How to check if your tree is subject to one and what to do about it.

Tree Preservation Orders and Trees in Conservation Areas

What is a Tree Preservation Order?

Trees are a beautiful part of England's landscape and Tree Preservation Orders are here to protect the amenity value we all enjoy from the trees around us. Trees not only look good but they also offer lots of benefits such as removing pollutants from the air. Moderating temperature during both winter and summer. Trees play an important part in preventing flooding and soil erosion. Trees also directly increase the value of your house if you are fortunate enough to have them. A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is an order placed on individual trees, groups of trees or woodlands to protect trees and the amenity value that they provide. A Tree Preservation Order prohibits:

cutting down

topping

lopping

uprooting

wilful damage

wilful destruction

of trees without the written permission of the local council.s it is the responsibility of both the tree owner and the person conducting work on trees to ensure this is adhered to. pleading ignorance will not serve as a justifiable excuse. Don't worry we are here to help make this easy for you.

How do I check if my tree has a Tree Preservation order on it?

To check if you have a tree that is subject to either a Tree Preservation Order or is within a Conservation Area you will need to get in touch with your local council. Kirklees Council offer a very convenient online checker. It may be best to consult a professional to get advice on how to do this. D W Tree Service are more then happy to help you with your application. Contact us and we will best advise you on how to progress your application.

My tree is protected what do I need to do?

You can apply for consent to work on your tree. The local council may give you written consent to work on your tree. Any consent given may be subject to conditions which will usually state that any works be carried out by a qualified tree surgeon. A council may also refuse permission to carry out work on the tree. If this happens you can then appeal this decisions but there is no guarantee it will be over turned.

What are the consequences?

The council can and do take Tree Preservation Orders seriously, though if you communicate with them they are usually quite helpful. However, the if you do not adhere to the order you could be looking at up to a £20,000 fine at magistrates court or an unlimited fine at crown court.

Can I get help with a Tree Preservation Order?

Yes, we are more then happy to submit TPO application on our customers behalf get in touch and we will give you some advice and let you know your options